Facebook is launching a major update to its Reels platform, aiming to make video discovery more personal, timely, and socially engaging.
Announced Tuesday, the update introduces a smarter recommendation engine that surfaces fresher content more quickly, helping users find videos that better match their interests.
A standout new feature is “friend bubbles”, a social layer that highlights Reels liked by your friends and lets you jump straight into private chats from those interactions. The update also brings AI-powered search suggestions, enhancing how users explore short-form videos.
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At the core of the update is an overhauled algorithm that now prioritizes newness, showing 50% more Reels published on the same day you’re scrolling. This shift directly responds to user feedback asking for more current and culturally relevant content.
Facebook says these changes are already driving results, with video watch time up over 20% year-over-year in the U.S. The platform also gives users more control through improved “Not Interested” and Save features, each action helping fine-tune future recommendations.
